Most of the National Premier League (NPL) competitions across Australia have already come to an end, with only the final matches of the play-offs left.

Among the very few teams that were able to stay alive throughout this difficult process were Brisbane Olympic, after shattering all expectations and advancing to the final thanks to a 1-2 win against the regional champions, Queensland Lions, a couple of weeks a go.

Even their mere presence in the final was enough of a success, considering they had finished their regular season in fourth place, which is the last of those that provide access to the play-offs.

Meaning that they were able to make it to the finals through the skin of their teeth.

However, they weren’t willing to be satisfied with just that, and considering they had been put in the same position last season (as they lost the trophy against the Lions again in the Grand Final), they wanted to take that extra step forward and be the ones to leave the pitch with a smile on their face.

But it simply wasn’t meant to be, as their opponents, the Gold Coast Knights, took the lead just after the first nine minutes of the encounter through Nicholas Panetta.

The Olympic players tried to bounce back, but this early goal seemed to have taken a toll on their morale, as they just couldn’t find ways to break down the opposition defence.

Just before the two teams were about to head into the dressing rooms, a lifeline appeared for Olympic, as Knights forward Jarrod Kyle was dismissed from the game after a dangerous tackle on the feet of Steve Whyte. However that didn’t prove sufficient for the team in red and white to come back into the game, as the lead was extended by a wonderfully struck free kick credit of Oskar Dillion.

Having their hopes for the trophy dashed and watching the minutes going by like sand through an hourglass, the Olympic players realised they would remain without any silverware for yet another season.

Panzer’s late goal came as small consolation.

All things considered, to advance to the final for a second consecutive year while also making it to the round of 32 of the FFA Cup makes their campaign quite successful.

NPL QUEENSLAND FINAL RESULT

Brisbane Olympic – Gold Coast Knights 1-2 (90′ Panzer – 9′ Panetta, 64′ Dillion, 45’+3′ s.o. Kyle)